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Alzheimers

Posted by Jo [6313.5158] on November 12, 2008 at 16:13:55:

How do doctors tell the difference between Alzheimer's and just normal senility in elderly people? Are there tests that can be done to diagnose what they have? My father-in-law who is in his late 70's has recently been put in a nursing because he could no longer live by himself. The doctor thought he may have had some small strokes. Which I think is probably right. He was falling a lot and having mental confusion and forgetfulness before we put him in the nursing home. The last couple of days he seems to be doing worse so they are going to check him for a possible urinary tract infection. They told us sometimes infections in the elderly can cause mental confusion. Anyway, all this got me to wondering how they diagnose Alzheimer's from normal aging and thought I would ask.

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Re: Alzheimers

Posted by VF [12036.1399] on November 12, 2008 at 17:25:45:

In Reply to: Alzheimers posted by Jo [6313.5158] on November 12, 2008 at 16:13:55:

Not sure but I thought Alsheimers patients were irritable, and short tempered, not docile.

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Re: Alzheimers

Posted by Jayne [10093.2873] on November 12, 2008 at 18:02:28:

In Reply to: Alzheimers posted by Jo [6313.5158] on November 12, 2008 at 16:13:55:

HI Jo.......

Vit. B-12 is good for all elderly!



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Re: Alzheimers

Posted by Helena [7972.1544] on November 12, 2008 at 19:35:49:

In Reply to: Alzheimers posted by Jo [6313.5158] on November 12, 2008 at 16:13:55:

I know one person who was diagnosed by CT scan which showed certain changes in her brain. This was done after her son insisted on such testing, so I don't know if this is the usual way to diagnose. I've heard that the difference between forgetfulness/normal aging and Alzheimers is that being unable to find a set of keys is forgetfulness/normal aging, being completely unable to know or remember what to do with the keys once they've been found is Alzheimers. But I suspect that years ago, when 'Alzheimers' hadn't been given a name it was thought of as normal aging :((

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Re: Alzheimers

Posted by lmd [11129.1399] on November 12, 2008 at 22:09:00:

In Reply to: Re: Alzheimers posted by VF [12036.1399] on November 12, 2008 at 17:25:45:

Not a rule. My dad died with this disease and was very compliant and cooperative. A gentleman to the end.

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Re: Alzheimers

Posted by Nutmeg [4785.2450] on November 12, 2008 at 23:44:28:

In Reply to: Alzheimers posted by Jo [6313.5158] on November 12, 2008 at 16:13:55:

Hi Jo,

The Alzheimer's Association and other non-profit organizations supporting Alzheimer's disease are good sources of information about this topic. Google Alzheimer's and you will find some links to the organizations.

The commonly used drugs for Alzheimer's probably also have info on their websites. Aricept and Namenda are the ones my mom was on, and I think there are a couple of others.

Here is one link about other dementias:

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_related_diseases.asp

UTI's causing confusion in the elderly is a well-known phenomenom in care facilities. The staff at my mom's assisted living home had a urinalysis done on her a number of times when her confusion and wandering noticeably increased, or when she fell, especially at night. It turned out she had a mild UTI every time, but we don't know if she had one between times.

Nutmeg

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Re: Alzheimers

Posted by ANN [1003.2765] on November 13, 2008 at 04:49:24:

In Reply to: Alzheimers posted by Jo [6313.5158] on November 12, 2008 at 16:13:55:

Peter Gott MD, a doctor who writes a newspaper column states that there are 3 things commonly misdiagnosed as alzheimers-
1. b-12 deficiency
2-low cholesterol
3-prescription drug interaction-many older people take multiple prescriptions, any of which can cause a problem by itself or in conjunction with other meds. Get a list of all his prescriptions and look up their side effects on the internet-even that might not point up interactions, but can tell you if individual meds might cause his problems.

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Re: Alzheimers

Posted by craig [8177.4304] on November 13, 2008 at 12:02:21:

In Reply to: Re: Alzheimers posted by ANN [1003.2765] on November 13, 2008 at 04:49:24:

don't believe a positive test exists.post mortem analysis for amaloyd (sp) plaque is only sure fire way.
Vitamin E with mixed tocopherols will effectively slow disease but only in early stages and effects good for only about 1 year.
Best to avoid by taking lot's of Fish Oil (DHA fraction more important than the EPA) and quality Curcumin with some form of enhanced absorbability along with a good dose of natural E w/ mixed tocopherols.

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Re: Alzheimers -- Archive.

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.4968] on November 14, 2008 at 06:29:28:

In Reply to: Re: Alzheimers posted by ANN [1003.2765] on November 13, 2008 at 04:49:24:

Thanks, Ann.

Don't forget individual low levels of omega 3s.

Walt

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Re: Alzheimers

Posted by penny [12240.3308] on November 28, 2008 at 20:46:02:

In Reply to: Re: Alzheimers posted by ANN [1003.2765] on November 13, 2008 at 04:49:24:

In reply to: Alzheimers posted by ANN [1003.2765] on November 13, 2008 at 04:49:24:

Do you know the date of the Dr. Gott column you referenced where he commented on mitaken Alzheimers diagnosis? I'd greatly appreciate it.
Thank you.


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